TORONTO, November 3, 2024 – He’s Not Joking was full of run down the lane to take Sunday’s Grade 3 $135,000 bet365 Grey Stakes at Woodbine.

It was 3-2 choice Shifty, breaking from the rail post, who seized the early lead at the outset, and held a 2 ½-length advantage over stablemate Tapit Kissit Winit, with Dewolf in third along the rail through an opening quarter in :23.76. He’s Not Joking, in rein to Kazushi Kimura, was camped in seventh of eight.

Shifty was still calling the shots after a quarter in :47.01, two lengths clear of Tapit Kissit Winit, with Dewolf a head behind.

Kimura began to make steady progress with He’s Not Joking, who began to advance willingly from the five-eighths. As the field straightened for the stretch drive, the colt drove to the front and quickly accelerated away from his rivals en route to an authoritative fourth-length score in a time of 1:43.18.

Dewolf was second, Shifty was third, and a late-rolling Thundering finished fourth.

“From the three-eighths, he had a beautiful acceleration,” said Kimura. “I felt very confident.”

This was the first stakes crown for the son of Practical Joke out of the Central Banker mare Collegeville Girl and the first for owner Di Scola Boys Stable.

“It feels awesome,” said John Di Scola. “We waited a long time to get on this side of the grass. Very proud of the way he stepped up and finished today.”

Di Scola wasn’t certain the bay would get two turns.

He was happy to be wrong.

“To be honest, I have to give hats off to Josie (Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer, Carroll) on that. She was the one who thought he could get two turns, and I was kind of doubting her, but she was spot on. He showed up in a big way today to polish them all off.”

Bred in Kentucky by James Wasserson, He’s Not Joking, who arrived at the Grey off a third in the Display Stakes on Oct. 13, is now 2-1-1 from 4 starts.

He broke his maiden in his second start, a 1 ¼-length score at seven furlongs over the Woodbine main track on Sept, 15.

A $105,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale, He’s Not Joking paid $23 for the win.

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Chris Lomon, Woodbine

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